Chapter 801: Qin Li's Way of the Scholar [Seeking Monthly Tickets]
She trusted Qi Yuanliang so much and even categorically denied Gu Chi's guess. Little did she know that the mastermind behind it all was a truly evil scheme!
Shen Tang stared at the handwritten letter spread out on her lap for a long time.
"So arrogant, aren't you afraid of getting yourself into trouble one day?" If he could get himself into trouble, the amount of money Qi Yuanliang received could definitely support a factory. Shen Tang rubbed the bridge of his nose, resignedly put away the entire handwritten letter, reached for a lamp in the corner, and watched as the pages of the letter burned to ashes, leaving no trace of evidence that could harm Qi Shan. "Worry."
The letter was limited in length, and Qi Shan wanted to write too much, so he omitted various details, including the identity of the Xu clan member he had used to eliminate the family. Shen Tang wasn't sure who this person was to Xu Jie's brothers, or how close they were; she only knew it was better to avoid trouble. Once Xu Jie and Xu Quan found out that Qi Shan had killed their clansman and then burned down the Xu clan's granary, a feud would inevitably ensue. Shen Tang wasn't a saint; her heart would lean towards Qi Shan without a doubt.
This matter could be kept from others, but not from Gu Chi.
"I told you, evil schemers will always eat shit." Haha, whenever something bad happens, just guess it's Qi Shan, and you're right every time!
Shen Tang said calmly, "It's good that we can achieve our goal."
She had also been struggling with how to deal with Wu Xian.
After all, the more the two companies cooperate, the better their external relations will be. As long as Wu Xian is sensible in the future, Shen Tang really won't find a reason to take action against him. She can make moves in secret, and if she doesn't get caught, that's fine, but if she reveals a flaw, it will definitely damage her reputation.
Qi Shan's move at this time was perfectly timed. As long as Shen Tang handles the aftermath effectively, and those who know about this matter keep their mouths shut or simply cannot speak out, who can say that Qi Shan did this?
Who can say she has ulterior motives towards the Alliance?
Listening to his lord's heartfelt words, Gu Chi helplessly covered his ears: "Sigh, I can't listen to these things."
Shen Tang asked him with a smile, "Are you worried about being silenced?"
Gu Chi rolled his eyes inelegantly and scoffed, "Chi Lizhi aspires to be the greatest treacherous minister of all time, and he's worried about this?"
"Treachery" is not a good word; it refers to a minister who is adept at flattery, understanding the emperor's wishes, and fawning over him. Gu Chi's grandfather and father were upright men who hoped Gu Chi would inherit the family tradition, but Gu Chi's scholarly ways meant he could never escape this label. Since he was destined to be unable to break free, he decided to indulge in a life of leisure and collude with his like-minded lord.
Is there any closer relationship between ruler and subject, master and servant, than one of heartfelt connection?
Shen Tang: "...There's no need for that."
Why are you cursing yourself like that for no reason?
She had originally intended to inquire about the identities of the deceased members of the Xu family, but she quickly learned the answer from Xu Quan. Xu Quan wasn't easy to get information out of her, but as soon as she revealed the trump card of Gong Xi Chou, her little admirer's mouth fell shut.
I sent Gong Xichou out in the morning, and he returned in the afternoon.
"The one who died was the grandson of an elder in Xu Quan's family." Gong Xichou completed his mission without asking Shen Tang why. He was obsessed with martial arts and his hobbies, and disliked intrigue, but that didn't mean he was brainless. In fact, a naive martial artist could never become a commander; he would only ever be an ordinary general. Gong Xichou had the ability to lead troops, but he simply didn't like it.
Shen Tang tossed him a corn cob, its golden kernels glistening with broth and steaming: "The clan elder's grandson?"
Gong Xichou accurately picked up the conversation and immediately launched into a detailed explanation: "That clan elder is from the same generation as the grandfather of the Xu brothers, Xu Jie and Xu Quan. He is quite prestigious within the Xu family. His grandson is a posthumous child, the only son. He got into a fight with someone over a woman in the street and got his head smashed open with a brick."
Shen Tang then asked, "What is his relationship with the Wen Shi brothers?"
Gong Xichou, munching on a corncob, mumbled a reply: "The relationship probably isn't very good. Isn't that how it is in big families? Nominally cousins, we see each other less often than strangers. I heard that the clan elder abused his seniority, causing Xu Jie a lot of trouble, and embezzling money when doing things... and throwing a tantrum when the family distributed profits at the end of the year..."
The Xu family started as merchants, and their family precepts differed from those of other families.
They knew that to get their clansmen to work, they had to give them benefits, turning the clan's interests into their own. So, there was a year-end bonus. A portion of the annual bonus was set aside and distributed according to the members' contributions throughout the year.
This tradition has continued for generations.
The Xu family business expanded unprecedentedly under Xu Jie's leadership, unknowingly inflating the appetites of the clan members. Not all clan members understood the pain points of merchants in this society; they didn't care about the Xu family's public image, only about their reduced annual dividends. The clan elders were the most vocal, vehemently opposing Xu Jie's investment in Wu Zhaode, yet secretly currying favor with the powerful families.
He tried to curry favor with the Tianhai gentry in exchange for educational resources to have his grandson become a disciple of a famous scholar; in short, he had two faces.
He went mad when his only son was gone.
They used their family's prestige and seniority to put pressure on Xu Jie.
"...According to Xu Quan, his cousin Xu Jie suspects that the clan elder was the one who set fire to the granary...After all, given his personality, he's capable of doing something like that." But Gong Xi Chou knew it wasn't true; the person who did it was definitely related to Mama. Even if it wasn't Mama's doing, it was still one of her subordinates.
He knew, but he didn't care.
Xu Quan was his devoted fan, but who was Xu Jie? Who was the Xu family? And who was that old man from the Xu family whose only grandson had died?
What do these people have to do with him?
Shen Tang's brow relaxed slightly.
Gong Xichou: "Since Xu Jie already has a suspect and has found a reason, then it must have been this old guy who did it."
He threw the cleaned-out corn into the trash can.
Shen Tang smiled and said, "That's exactly what I was thinking too."
"I heard Huang Xiguang is up to something again?"
Shen Tang said, "Let them attack us on their own."
It's hard to say how long Huang Lie's food supplies will last, but Zhang He can certainly hold out for a while. Shen Tang intercepted his supplies, but Zhang He also managed to acquire a batch of supplies while chasing Chu Yao. So, in a sense, the two sides are evenly matched.
"After dealing with Huang Xiguang, I need to leave for a while."
Shen Tang understood Gong Xi Chou; the latter wouldn't stay put, even if she was a sacred object of the Gong Xi clan: "What are you doing?"
“Naturally, I’ll look for my brother and nephew.” He’ll be preoccupied with this matter as long as he can’t find his blood relatives. It’s hard to concentrate on cultivation with this mindset. It will become a knot in his heart over time. “Of course, if Mama needs me, I will rush back from the ends of the earth.”
Shen Tang didn't insist on keeping him: "Mm."
——
At Zhanghe Camp, a letter was brought back by a scout.
The document was signed "Received by Zhang He".
When he opened it, he was so angry that his skull almost flew off!
He roared in fury, "Sink! Young! Pear!"
"You brat! This is outrageous! This is outrageous!"
Intercepting his supplies was bad enough, but to send such a smug letter made his blood pressure skyrocket! Years of self-control crumbled on the spot! He kicked the table away, and it rolled several times on the ground before shattering into pieces!
"Any news from Huang Xiguang's side?"
This time, let Yanzhou become Shen Youli's burial place!
——
The movements of Zhang He and Huang Lie's troops did not escape the notice of the scouts from the Shen and Wu families, but to be more precise, Qin Gongsu was the first to discover the activity. He sat in his tent, looking much thinner and more haggard, holding a scroll of military strategy books that he had already read halfway through.
In the center of the camp was a peculiar sand table.
The sand table is rectangular, and it contains neither millet nor sand and gravel, nor small flags representing power. Instead, it displays an image of clouds and mist, beneath which mountains and rivers are depicted.
After Qin Li carefully examined another bamboo strip, the tent curtain was violently lifted, and the person who entered was none other than Zhao Dayi.
Zhao Feng held the plate in his left hand and lifted the curtain with his right.
"Gongsu, stop what you're doing and have something to eat."
Seeing that Qin Li remained motionless, Zhao Feng stepped forward to take the scroll away, but Qin Li dodged to the side: "I'm not eating, I have no appetite."
"If you don't want to eat, then don't eat. You're missing out on the good food."
Qin Li finally glanced over.
The plate was piled with seven or eight thick, strange-looking things, each stick filled with many plump seeds with a glossy, smooth surface.
What is this?
Zhao Fengdao said, "My daughter brought it."
On the day Shen Tang arrived, Zhao Feng and his men were indeed out of camp on business. Shen Tang specially reserved a small basket of corn for them in Zhao Wei's name. When Zhao Feng heard that it was his old friend Cui Xiao who had brought it, he immediately expressed his support and became the first to taste it.
Zhao Fengdu was mentally prepared to be poisoned or vomit it up, after all, Cui Xiao knew nothing about farming, could the food he made be edible? The result—well, it wasn't poisonous, and it tasted pretty good.
"Try it, it tastes much better than wheat rice."
Even if he was a general, the wheat rice he ate would still make his throat sore.
Qin Li glanced at Zhao Feng, then looked at Yu Mai's appearance, and refused to be as rude as him, opening his mouth and gnawing on it.
He peeled and ate them one by one.
Zhao Feng: "..."
Zhao Feng had already finished three ears of corn, while Qin Li hadn't even finished half. If it weren't for the circumstances, I really suspect Gong Su would have used a fine silver needle to pick out each ear one by one. What flavor would that have?
After enjoying a delicious meal, Zhao Fengdao said, "I've found out."
Qin Li lowered his eyes and continued to argue with Yu Mai: "Speak."
Zhao Feng wiped his mouth: "It's a problem on Tianhai's side."
He relayed all the information he had gathered.
Since that incident, Wu Xian has clearly distanced himself from their faction, and lately the estrangement has only intensified. Whenever there's something to discuss, he consults advisors from the Tianhai aristocratic family. Even when Qin Li occasionally offers advice, the advisors react with cold indifference.
This fueled Zhao Feng's resentment—he was the mastermind behind the revenge, and he led the entire operation. Yet his lord implicated Gong Su as well, which seemed excessively biased!
Once I checked, everything became clear.
With the Xu family members killed and their granaries burned, Xu Jie was unable to produce any provisions, yet the front lines could not afford to run out of food. Wu Xian had no choice but to seek help from the Tianhai family. Zhao Feng, seething with anger, retorted, "How is our lord's action any different from selling smiles for grain?"
Even though it was only in private, these words were still offensive.
Qin Li calmly replied, "Nothing is different."
Whether they are royalty or commoners, everyone strives for profit and weighs the pros and cons; both resort to cunning for survival. Essentially, they are no different.
Zhao Feng asked, "What should we do now?"
Qin Li didn't care about any of that; he only cared about one thing.
"Dayi, who do you think did this?"
Zhao Feng was astonished: "What?"
Qin Li calmly said, "It's too much of a coincidence."
"Does Gong Su mean—someone is plotting against our lord?"
Qin Li corrected him: "They were plotting against me."
"...Who? Who did this?" Zhao Feng transformed into a raging beast, his eyes blazing with murderous intent. "Gong Su, tell me, I'll kill him!"
Qin Li said, "Let's pray for Yuanliang."
This was said in the tone of a declarative sentence.
Zhao Feng frowned: "Qi, the registrar under Lord Shen?"
Qin Li's gaze fell on the sand table in front of him: "The person who understands you best is often not a friend but an enemy. Although there is no evidence, my intuition tells me that this matter is inseparable from Qi Yuanliang. Even if he didn't do it himself, he must have instructed someone to do it. Over the years, Xu Wenzhu has been gradually alienated by Lord Wu and has become closer to Longwu County. Lord Shen led his troops on an expedition, leaving the rear to Qi Yuanliang. Xu Wenzhu has dealt with him a lot, so why would he suspect him? It's probably true..."
Zhao Feng: "...What does Chief Clerk Qi want?"
Qin Li sneered: "As long as I am under Wu Gong's command, Qi Yuanliang will never be at ease and will naturally try to sow discord among us."
Zhao Feng scratched his head: "...What kind of deep-seated grudge is this?"
Qin Li raised his hand and waved.
The clouds and mist on the sand table dissipated, revealing the mountains and rivers below. If one looked closely, one could see many tiny, ant-like figures at the location of Wu Xian's camp, with the layout of the small tents exactly the same as a real camp!
Zhao Feng's eyes showed a hint of worry.
"Gong Su?"
Qin Li said, "Don't worry, it's nothing."
The Scholar's Way in its perfect state consumes far more energy than in its normal state, but Qin Li had no choice but to do so in order to keep abreast of the enemy's movements. Of course, apart from a few close friends who had shared life and death with him, no one else knew about this trump card, after all—
The threat is too great!
"Huang Lie and Zhang He's troops have made a move."
Zhao Feng leaned down, his eyelashes almost touching the miniature figures on the sand table: "They're—sending elite troops to take a detour and launch a sneak attack?"
Under Qin Li's scholarly way, all tactical maneuvers are futile. From this perspective, all beings are merely pawns in a game!
Qin Li said, "Hmm."
Zhao Feng then asked, "Should we remind our lord?"
Scholars are cunning and resourceful, always keeping a trump card hidden, just as a cunning rabbit has three burrows. Qin Li was no exception. He had perfected his scholarly ways for many years, but he had always kept it a secret from others, including Wu Xian.
Even subordinates need secrets.
Qin Li lowered his eyes slightly.
After a long while, Zhao Feng heard him say, "Of course we should remind them, but let's wait for news from the vanguard scouts."
Now he's on the fringes, unable to access timely intelligence. Even with his brilliant strategies, he'd struggle to know how many troops the enemy has deployed, when they'll arrive, and from where. In the past, he'd been eager to inform his lord immediately.
But now?
Even if I say it, it won't be accepted, and it will only arouse suspicion.
Qin Li also needed to consider Zhao Feng and his group. They had followed him for so many years, but hadn't enjoyed much good fortune, only suffering a lot of resentment. What about Wu Xian's interests and their safety?
Qin Li has now chosen the latter.
He had no intention of betraying Wu Xian.
As long as Wu Xian doesn't push him to that point!
|ω`)
Yuan Liang's fear of Qin Gongsu was not without reason; it wasn't because he was targeting him. Functionally speaking, Qin Li's approach to the scholar's way was even more powerful than that of A Yan's teacher, Ji Moyu, a former high-ranking official of Xin State.
Ji Moyu's "Way of the Scholar" is like a live map, clearly distinguishing friend from foe and making movements clear. Qin Li's "Way of the Scholar" can not only see the terrain and friend from foe, but also influence the battlefield weather to a certain extent.
Of course, powerful skills are usually quite time-consuming and require a lot of time and effort to acquire.
(End of this chapter)
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